Good post Merlin. Very interesting read and some good points. I just have a few questions or concerns.

I understand that Fulford was a battle with only the forces of the northern earls. My point was that if the forces of the northern earls were not so decimated, then they could have been present at Hastings, upping the number of English troops considerably.

Now understnad that I am not especailly well read in this area, so please excuse me if my thoughts seem somewhat simple. But the 7,000 that you mention Harold levying from the northern counties. Is this the actual number of thegns mustered, or the overall number. I agree that a thegn would most likely bring an average of two men with him to battle, if able. But is there any way of telling who exactly comprised the 7,000? Maybe it was only 2,500 thegns and their retinues?

7,000 mounted thegns is a little hard to believe, but I'm not counting it out. One of my main questions is the distance covered. If I am correct Harold marched approximately 225 miles noth to face Hardradda at Stamford Bridge? That is really moving for an army, and it is not easy to keep an army cohesive and tight if they are moving at such a fast pace all day. I think that a cavlary force could have reached Stamford bridge in 2 days, not in five days like Harold's army took. Unless they arrive early, and waited for reinforcements and time to gather themselves.

Once again an all cavalry force rushing south to meet William at hastings is hard for me to imagine as being real. maybe it was, but I need to check it out on my own. I know that the Anglo-Saxons largely fought on foot, and that horses were mainly used for transport and agricultural reasons. So I guess that it is just hard for me to beleive 7,000 Anglo-Saxon thegns riding south to Hastings and not one of them used their horse in the battle.

But maybe that is what made Harold and his personal troops get south so fast. Maybe they atacked early for they would have known that the infantry marching south and the local levies would not be arriving yet. I beleive that the one third present at Hastings refers to the toal manpower that Harald knew or thought was coming south and form the local fyrds the meet him. 10,000 English is the maximum number that I will entertain, as I do not beleive that Harold could have musted more and had them present with them.
Also, I was at Battle last March, and I walked around the battlefiueld for quite awhile. I know that the topography has changed in 900+ years, plus the fact that the Normans rounded the hill off some to build Battle Abbey. But I do not beleive that the battlefield was large enough for 20,000+ troops on each side. The marshy ground at the base of the hill would be much too treacherous for that many horse to move through, and I do not beleive that there would be thousands more English hiding in the forrests behind the Saxon lines. Either they would have joined the battle themselves, they would have ran, or Harold would have called them up.

these are just some of my thoughts. Good conversation.